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Town in New South Wales, Australia
Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ballina is a coastal town, just south of Byron Bay and Lennox Head in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.
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Ballina is home to the world's largest prawn sculpture, and can be seen alongside the road when travelling east towards the beach from the freeway.
This very shallow area at the outlet of North Creek just upstream from the Hill St bridge is often used for fishing and wading, calmer than beaches and may be fun for small children, but unpatrolled.
Southern-most of the ocean beaches off East Ballina, patrolled between September and April.
Middle of the ocean beaches off East Ballina, patrolled between September and April.
Longer northern beach off East Ballina, patrolled at the north (Flat Rocks) end in the peak summer season.
Beach to the north of Ballina at Skennars Head, patrolled in the peak summer season.
Flat Rock headland has marine pools to explore at low tide and a popular surf break.
50m and 25m swimming pools.
Two enclosed tower waterslides, a gentler shorter one and a more adventurous one with a steep drop at the start.
Gorgeous, light-filled Italian restaurant with stupendous views over Lighthouse Beach. Woodfired pizzas and beef ragu pappardelle are on point.
Ballina RSL in the main street serves excellent meals — mostly pub-style meat and seafood — has great views of the river and is reasonably priced. Reservations strongly recommended for larger groups or if you want a riverside table.
Pizza and seafood restaurant with a great view of the sunset over the Richmond River.
Basic pub fare including steak, chicken schnitzel, pasta and similar.
Cabins, caravan parking, and campgrounds.
Ballina's sole branded hotel is by far the biggest operation in town. It's walking distance from the shopping strip and right on the river's edge, with a pool, but there are no beaches within walking distance.
By car
Ballina is on the Pacific Highway, around 9 hours drive north of Sydney or just over 2 hours south from Brisbane. It's also one end of Tourist Drive 30 from Byron Bay, only about 40 minutes away.
By coach (bus)
Flixbus and Greyhound stop by Ballina on their Sydney–Brisbane routes.
There is a local public bus service in Ballina, that operates every day of the week.
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Ballina · Regional · BNK
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